Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-03-11

Captain Jane, r. Eads died at Nassau,
New Providence, Oh the Sih inst, OF pneu-
monia
James r. Esds was born at Lawrenceburg,
lnd., May %, ls2o. With his parents he re-.
moved in ls2S to Louisville, KY. In 1885
his father started down the ohio river with
his family, proposing to settle In Wisconsin.
The boat caught fire aud his scauty furniture
and clothing were burned. Young Eads
barely escaped ashore with his pantaloons
shirt ana cap.
Taking rassaec on another boa, this boy
of Is landed at 8. Louis with his parents,
his little bare feet first touching the rocky
shore Of the city on the very spot where be
Afterwards located and built the largest steel
bridge In the world, over the Mississippi-ons
OF the most difficult feats Of engineering ever
performed in America At the age Of Q young
Eads had made short trip on the Ohio when
the engineer OF the steamb boat explained to
him 20 clearly the construction OF the steam
engine tba. before he was year older he built
little working model of IL % perfect In its
parts and movements that his schoolmates
would frequently go home with him after
school to see 1t work. A locomotive engine,
driven by q concealed rat was one OF his
next juvenile feafs In mechanical engineer.
Ing. From s to lS he attended school, after
which from necessity he was placed as clerk
In dry goods store Over the store in St.
Louia ~nere he was engaged his employer
Observed the tastes Of his clerk, gave him his
first book on engineering. Tne old gentle.
mans library furnished evening companions
for him during the five years he was thus
employed. Finally, his health failing, q: the
age OF 10 he went on Mississippi river
steamer and for three years served as clerk.
In 1872 he entered . firm engaged in the
recovery OF sunken property. . business
which under his management became 90
large and important and was carried on with
such success that In 1857 he was able to retire
with fortune. At the outbreak OF the civil
war in 1861, he submitted to the government
plan for the defense OF the Western waters
and contracted for the construction OF seven
trouclads, and the next year he constructed
six more He has since acquired grea. rep.
utaiion 81 civil engineer, rs protector aud
constructor OF the st Louis bridge. Later on
he was made famous on account OF his sue.
cessfully placing jetties at the mouth Of the
Mississippi river, which had the desired effec,
OF more than doubling the depth OF the water
over the bars which obstructed the passage
Of vessels at those points
The nextgres. prof ect which he conceived
was that OF building ship railway across the
Istbmus OF Tehuantepsc. This scheme was
based upon the theory that wherever canal
can be dug to float ship q railroad can be
built TO carry ship, and. strange and novel
some OF the most sober minded and com
petent engineers OF this country End
England have declared that It is sci.
entiticaliy sound and practicable. Cap.
tain Esds' plan provides for twelve rails,
upon which will ride a strong car large
enough to carry tbs largest ship atost The
vessel Is placed on the car by the car being run
down into the water and under the ship, and
then shi p and car are drawn up and the shi .
stayed with blocks n keep her upriah. The
railroad will be- li3 miles long, and /, il pro.
posed to move a snip from water 10 water in
about twelve hours Captain Esds estimated
his railway wonlk cosr, Including equip
ments. So. cD,0o aod could % completed in
five years
This great scheme has hssn before Con.
gress for several years, bat all tbs efforts Of
the inventor snd his hackers 20 secure the
Necessary legislation failed, "a tha projectors
Of the ship railway insist d that the govern.
men. should give the scheme substantial Il
nancial backing.